Metal Halides

[MrsFish]

Just about to set up a new tank - very excited (if you're interested, see my other post entitled "Starting Over").

I really want to go with Metal Halides this time, but the book I'm reading says they are very volatile and a huge fire risk. It sites examples of them exploding on contact with salt splash, and reinforces the importance of allowing the enormous heat they generate to escape.

It also says they raise the temperature of the water.

Is the book just quoting an old viewpoint - it's published in 2001. Have these lights been updated to be more safe?

We go camping several times a year .. and will be away three times throughout the year for over 1 week when I would be leaving the tank, lights, etc on timers.

Now I'm worried ... anyone care to comment?

Mrs Fish

 

[drbdc]

An electronic ballast runs pretty cool which is the main fire risk. Some of the old tar ballasts were almost as hot as the bulbs. I wouldn't think of trying to have a reef w/o mh's myself. If you only plan on softies then you could go pc's. T-5's are another new wave. I've had a few freinds try them and they do "work" with sps but every one of them has switched to or back to the mh's to get decent growth. JMO

 

[ChrisRD]

What book are you reading?

With more light comes more heat - halides provide greater irradiance levels than fluorescents. IME the heat is usually manageable with fans.

As for the danger, IMO halides that are setup and maintained correctly are no more dangerous than a lot of the electrical stuff we have in/around our tanks. Use a GFIC to minimize risk, etc.

JMO...

 

[LA-Lawman]

Ditto with chris...

I wouldn't consider having a reef without MH lighting. i agree with the risk assesment from chris. If you run a coffee pot near the sink you know what precautions to take. same here. tie your lighting to a GFCI and you are good to go.

I reccomend the electronic ballasts over the TAR ballasts... very cool running. mine are still warm to the touch but not nearly as bad

I have all my ballasts mounted on the wall in my tank area. I also have a few 150cfm exhaust fans that pull the hot air out of the area... so mine are not too bad..

the lights are cooled directly with fans.

I have three 250w DE's on my 180g.... i think it is just right.

take a look at Len's setup. i think he cools his with fans also

 

[Anonymous]

Ditto again on the halides.


I think that most of the fire related stories I've seen so far are from PC bulbs.